10/29/2015 Explosives recognition and awareness in Court Security INTRODUCTION Course Objectives Familiarize court security personnel with explosives and their illicit uses Familiarize court security personnel with methods of prevention and detection of explosive devices in a court security setting. Familiarize court security personnel with methods of dealing with potential or actual explosive devices as first responders. 1 10/29/2015 The FBI Bomb Data Center reports that 70% of all terrorist incidents involve the use of incendiary agents and explosives. We know that there have been attacks carried out against government facilities in the U.S. including court buildings using explosives. This is why it is important for court security personnel to be familiar with explosives and their use. This course is not an “EOD”, “TACTICS”or “BOMB TECH”course. Theintentofthiscourseistoprovidebasic knowledge of the relationship between explosives and court security functions. Officers should always rely on their own training, department policy and common sense when dealing with explosives. HISTORY OF EXPLOSIVES 2 10/29/2015 Beginnings Gunpowder first appeared in China around the 1st century AD and was used for fireworks. The first evidence of use in weapons appeared in Europe around the 13th century when projectiles were propelled through tubes. The first high explosive, “fulminating gold” was first mentioned in writings by German alchemist Sebald Schwaertzer in 1585. Italian chemist Asconio Sobrero discovered nitroglycerin in 1846 but the compound was very unstable and difficult to work with. Alfred Nobel, Sweden Advances Swedish scientist Albert Nobel invents a method of stabilizing nitroglycerin in 1866 and patents dynamite in 1867. He discovered that diatomaceous earth would absorb the nitroglycerine, but not reduce its explosive force. Nobel also invents blasting caps and a smokeless explosive powder called ballistite. Nobel continued to experiment and improve the stability of nitroglycerin inventing a gel explosive. Another smokeless powder called cordite is invented by Sir James Dewar and Sir Frederick Abel around the same time. 3 10/29/2015 Advances Chemists continue to experiment with explosive compounds to improve cost, efficiency and safety resulting in many advances in the explosive industry. OVERVIEW OF EXPLOSIVES Explosive Characteristics Pyrotechnics - produced to create smoke, light, heat, and sound. There are numerous work-horse Pyrotechnics; however these are not typically used in bombingattacks,butareusedinother types of bombings or arsons. Examples: fireworks, road flares, smoke grenades, and thermites. 4 10/29/2015 Explosive Characteristics Propellants - also referred to as low explosives, are designed to provide a controlled release of gas to perform useful work. This gas can be used to push something (such as a bullet from a gun, or the space shuttle into space). While not typically used in suicide bombing attacks, they could be utilized due to their easy accessibility in the U.S. The vast majority of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in the U.S. has historically incorporated propellants. Examples: black or smokeless powders, solid, and liquid rocket fuels Types of Explosives Low explosives • Combustion is relatively slow -1000 meters per second • The speed of explosion is called the speed of deflagration • Examples are black and smokeless powders Black powder is mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulphur Smokeless powder is nitrocellulose and perhaps nitro- glycerine Explosive Characteristics Explosives -alsoreferredtoashigh explosives, are designed to yield a near- instantaneous release of energy. When we try to harness the energy released from explosives, it is normally for destructive purposes. A bomb designed to cause maximum dispersion of shrapnel is intended to kill and cause property destruction. Examples: TNT, C4, and dynamite are common examples of explosives. 5 10/29/2015 High explosives – detonate (explode) rather than deflagrate (burn) • Combustion can range from 1000 mps to 10,000 mps Two types Initiating (or primary explosives) • Sensitive, will detonate readily when subjected to heat or shock. • Used to detonate other explosives in explosive train (a triggering sequence that ends up in a detonation of explosives) • Includes Nitroglycerine Noninitiating (Secondary or base explosives) • relatively insensitive, to heat, friction or shock, need special detonators such as low explosives. • Includes Dynamite, TNT or PETN • ANFOs or (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil) Stimuli Stimuli occurs in six different forms: heat, friction, impact, electrostatic discharge, shock, and radio frequency. Heat-atmospheric change or fire. Friction, Impact, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), Shock- the most frequent cause of accidental detonation. Radio Frequency Energy (RFE)-No radio transmission within 300 feet of a confirmed or suspected IED. High Explosives Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary are the three levels of high explosives. These levels designate the sensitivity to stimuli. Primary Explosives: Highly sensitive mostly used in small quantities for initiators such as cartridge primers and blasting caps. 6 10/29/2015 High Explosives Secondary Explosives: less sensitive than primary explosives and are more commonly used in bulk and include such common types as TNT, C4, and Dynamite. They usually require initiators such as blasting caps to detonate. High Explosives 7 10/29/2015 High Explosives Tertiary Explosives: very stable and insensitive based on ammonium nitrate. Tertiary explosives need a secondary explosive for detonation (usually ½ pound or more). The bomb that destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City was a 4000 lb ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO) bomb. Oklahoma City April 19, 1995 Terry Nichols Timothy McVeigh High Explosives 8 10/29/2015 High Explosives Acronyms TNT = Trinitro Toluene PETN = PentaErythritol TetraNitrate, also known as pentrite. PETN is also used as a vasodilator, similar to nitroglycerin. Used as medicine for heart diseases. RDX = Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine HMX or Octagon = Cyclotetramethylene- tetranitramine (related to RDX) TNT (Non-initiating or secondary high explosive) Trinitro Toluene Most used by the military Used in grenades, bombs, shells, or even alone. PETN PETN and TNT used together to make small-caliber projectiles Commercially used (mining, demolition, etc.) PETN is used in detonation cords or Primacords. These cords are used to create a series of explosions. 9 10/29/2015 PETN primacords attached to demolition explosives. Ammonium Nitrate Based Explosives • They are: Water gels Emulsions ANFOs (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil) 10 10/29/2015 Water Gels Consistency of gel or toothpaste Water-resistant, so good for explosions in or under bodies of water and wet conditions Contains: Oxidizers : a mixture of ammonium nitrate and sodium nitrate, gelled together with a carbohydrate like guar gum (food thickener and emulsifier) The fuel : is usually a combustible substance such as aluminum Emulsion Explosives Have 2 distinct phases An oil phase A water phase These emulsions contain An ammonium nitrate solution surrounded by A hydrocarbon An emulsifier such as glass, resin or ceramic microspheres to make the explosive less sensitive ANFO Ammonium nitrate (oxidizer) or urea nitrate, soaked in a highly combustible hydrocarbon (fuel) – usually a fuel oil. Easy to make, safe to handle Ammonium nitrate is found in fertilizers, so ANFOs are a favorite type of homemade bombs. 11 10/29/2015 Dupont is a leading manufacturer of industrial and commercial ANFO Homemade Explosives Molotov Cocktails TATP (Triacetone triperoxide) – a favorite amongst Middle Eastern Terrorists. Molotov cocktail In its simplest form, a Molotov cocktail is a glass bottle containing petrol fuel usually with a source of ignition such as a burning, fuel soaked, rag wick held in place by the bottle's stopper. In action the fuse is lit and the bottle hurled at a target such as a vehicle or fortification. When the bottle smashes on impact, the ensuing cloud of petrol droplets and vapor is ignited, causing an immediate fireball followed by a raging fire as the remainder of the fuel is consumed. Other flammable liquids such as wood alcohol and turpentine have been used in place of petrol. Thickening agents such as motor oil have been added to the fuel, analogously to the use of napalm, to help the burning liquid adhere to the target and create clouds of thick choking smoke. 12 10/29/2015 IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES What is an IED? "A device placed or fabricated in an improvised manner incorporating destructive, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic, or incendiary chemicals and designed to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract. It may incorporate military stores, but is normally devised from nonmilitary components” (United Nations) 13 10/29/2015 IED Limitations The only limitation to an IED is the skill level and imagination of the bomb maker. Explosives and Incendiary Devices Domestic bombings increasing 20-25% of U.S. bombings involve incendiary devices. 78% of terrorist bombs detonated or ignited 22% failed to function as designed 4% were preceded by a warning or threat Telephone bomb threats are most common All bomb threats should be considered “real.” E-mail threats are more difficult to trace. 42 14 10/29/2015 Explosives and Incendiary Devices Thousands of pounds of explosives stolen annually Blasting agents created from common materials